Business Administration

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.chuka.ac.ke/handle/chuka/7848

Browse

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10

BCOM 213: INTERMEDIATE ACCOUNTING II
(Chuka University, 2023-04-11) Chuka university
EFFECT OF PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS AMONG STUDENTS UNDERTAKING ENTREPRENEURIAL COURSES IN UNIVERSITIES IN MERU AND THARAKA NITHI COUNTIES.
(Chuka University, 2023-10) GIKUNDA KELVIN KIMATHI
The idea of entrepreneurship is gaining popularity throughout the world, especially in undeveloped countries where a variety of problems impede economic development. In order to handle economic issues like unemployment, wealth creation, societal stabilization, improved industry competition and economic growth entrepreneurship is crucial. The major goal of this study was to determine the relationship between personal attributes and entrepreneurial intention among university students in the counties of Meru and Tharaka Nithi. Determining the relationship among locus of control, need for achievement and risk-taking propensity and moderating relationship between operating environment and entrepreneurial intentions among university students were the specific objectives of this study. The study was conducted among university students since the students had undertaken entrepreneurial training to become future entrepreneurs. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study's target population was 800 students and a sample size of 267 respondents who were in third and fourth years and had undertaken entrepreneurial studies as a courses at the universities. This study was anchored on theory of planned behavior which states that an individual perceptions of a behavior and their subjective standards determines ones’ behavioral intentions and entrepreneurship event model of entrepreneurship which states that persons’ decisions is influenced by three factors that is; perceived desirability of the suggested behavior, propensity to act and practicability of the behavior. A questionnaire was used to guide in collecting primary data. Data obtained from this study was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods including tables, mean and standard deviation. Data was further analyzed using inferential statistics and SPSS version (25.0) as a tool. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the link between variables using confidence level of 95%. The research discovered an important link between entrepreneurial intentions and locus of control (regression coefficient =0.281, p-value 0.000). Entrepreneurial intentions were revealed to be definitely and favorably affected by the need for achievement (regression coefficient =0.418, p-value of 0.000). Additionally, risk taking propensity had a favorable significant relationship with entrepreneurial intentions (regression coefficient=0.187, p-value 0.000). Therefore, each of the three elements affected entrepreneurial intentions. The study recommends that universities should encourage students to believe in their abilities to make their future bright. Therefore, firms should invest in frameworks for locus of control, need for achievement and should be innovative regardless of the risks. Further research should be conducted in different contexts and other studies should be carried out for a longer period of time to track the changes over a period of time.
PERFORMANCE OF STARTER BROILER CHICKENS FED ON A BLEND OF PHYTOBIOTICS AS IN-FEED ANTIBIOTIC REPLACERS
(Chuka University, 2022-09) MAINA, JULIUS
The performance of starter Cobb 500 broiler chickens fed on stinging nettle leaf meal (NLM) or whole coriander seed meal (CSM) as feed additives singly and as a blend was investigated. The National Research Council (NRC) (1994) guidelines were followed in formulating the experimental diets. Each of the experiment lasted for 17 days. In experiment one, seven diets were prepared as follows: Control (0%), NLM at 1%, 1.5% and 2% and CSM at 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% dietary inclusion levels. A total of 84 unsexed chicks were weighed and randomly allocated the experimental diets with 4 replicates of 3 chicks each. The aim of the experiment was to get the level with highest Growth rate (GR) for each of the phytobiotic. For experiment two, three diets were utilised; basal diet supplemented with a blend of NLM at 1.5% and CSM at 0.5% inclusion levels (Blend), basal diet supplemented with oxytetracycline hydrochloride powder at the rate of 0.05g/kg of feed (Cox; the positive control) and the Control diet (negative control). A total of 36 unsexed chicks were weighed and randomly allocated to the experimental diets with 4 replicates of 3 chicks each. For both experiments, feed intake (FI) and body weight (BW) were weighed and recorded daily and weekly respectively. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and GR were also calculated. For experiment two, ileal nutrient digestibility (IND) and the populations of dominant ileal bacteria (DIB) were determined. Both experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with data being analysed using statistical analysis system (SAS version 9.4) software. Tukey pairwise comparisons were conducted to compare variations among diets where analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed differences at probability values (α = 0.05). Results from experiment one showed that the birds supplemented with NLM at 1% and CSM at 0.5% showed significant mean FI of 162.03g and 193g respectively. Significantly higher GR was recorded for all the dietary treatments; both for NLM and CSM supplemented groups (p<0.05) with the highest GR being 113.56g for NLM at 1.5% and 119.31g for CSM at 0.5%. Birds supplemented with NLM at 2% showed the highest FCE of 7.98 amongst the NLM group and CSM at 1.5% (8.35) for the CSM supplemented group. From the study, supplementing the diets of starter broiler chickens with NLM at 1.5% and CSM at 0.5% resulted to the highest GR. Results from experiment two showed that FI, GR and FCE were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. The group of birds supplemented with Blend showed higher FI (133.08g), GR (117.10g) and FCE (5.35) as compared to the other dietary treatments. The IND of dry matter (DM) (85.21%), crude protein (CP) (89.86%) and crude fibre (CF) (67.65%) was significantly higher in the groups of birds fed on Blend. For the birds fed on Cox and control diets, the IND of DM and CF was numerically different but non-significant at p<0.05. The CP digestibility was significant for all the diets offered to the experimental animals at p<0.05. Additionally, all diets had a significant effect on the proliferation of ileal bacteria studied at p<0.05. The growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was significantly increased by the Control diet (4.56 cfu/ml), with Cox showing the least effect (3.13 cfu/ml). The populations of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) were significantly increased with feeding Control diet (4.69 cfu/ml) but were decreased by Cox diet (2.09 cfu/ml). The Blend had the most significant effect on the growth of Lactobacillus species (spp.) (7.82 cfu/ml), with the Cox diet having the least effect (2.67 cfu/ml). From the study, dietary inclusion of a blend of NLM at 1.5% and CSM at 0.5% can be used as alterative to infeed oxytetracycline in growing of starter broiler chickens in Kenya.
APPLICATION OF ASYMMETRIC-GARCH TYPE MODELS TO THE KENYAN EXCHANGE RATE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS OF TIME SERIES DATA
(Chuka University, 2022-09) NDEGE, ERIC
The critical concern of financial market investors is uncertainty of the returns. The symmetric-GARCH type models can capture volatility and leptokurtosis. However, they do not capture leverage effects, volatility clustering, and the thick tail nature of financial time series. The primary objective of this study was to apply the asymmetric-GARCH type models to Kenyan exchange and balance of payments of time series data to overcome the shortcomings of symmetric-GARCH type models. Secondary objectives included fitting asymmetric-GARCH type models to the Kenyan exchange rate and Balance of payments data, identifying the best asymmetric-GARCH type model(s) that best fit(s) the Kenyan exchange rate and Balance of payments data and forecasting the Kenyan exchange rate and Balance of payments data trends using the best asymmetric-GARCH type model. The study compared five asymmetric Conditional Heteroskedasticity class of models: IGARCH, TGARCH, APARCH, GJR-GARCH, and EGARCH. Monthly secondary data on the exchange rate from January 1993 to June 2021 and Balance of payments from August 1998 to June 2021 were obtained from the Central Bank of Kenya website. Asymmetric GARCH models were fitted to the stationary log-differenced data based on the functions in the RUGARCH package in R. The best fit model is determined based on minimum value of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). The optimal variance equation for the exchange rates data was APARCH (1,1) - ARMA (3,0) model with a skewed normal distribution (AIC = -4.6871, BIC = -4.5860) since it accounts for leverage and the Taylor effect. The optimal variance equation for the Balance of payment data was ARMA (1,1) - IGARCH (1,1) model with a skewed normal distribution (AIC = -0.14475, BIC = -0.07882) due to absence of (persistent) volatility clustering in the series. Volatility clustering was present in exchange rate data. Both series did not show evidence of leverage effect. Estimated Kenya’s exchange rate volatility narrows over time, indicating sustained exchange rate stability. While the balance of payment volatility has narrowed over time, the balance of payment deficit keeps widening. Thus, the government should take measures to ensure that it maintains it competitiveness in the global market to attract foreign direct investment and promote exports of goods and services.
EFFECTS OF SELECTED MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022-09) LEBOO, VIBIAN
Foreign direct investment is fundamental to the economic development of all nations. Countries strive to ensure that a conducive environment for foreign investors is created. The foreign direct inflows in Kenya have been fluctuating owing to the macroeconomic variables which have been posing challenges to its growth. The Government of Kenya has worked to improve the country's ease of business and hence encourage FDI flows by introducing reforms such as attractive tax systems for corporations and a welcoming regulatory environment. The main objective of this study was to investigate how macro-economic variables affect foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenya .The specific objectives of this study were to establish the effect of real interest rates on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenya, to determine the effect of inflation rates on FDI in Kenya, to assess the effect of economic growth on FDI in Kenya to determine the effect of exchange rate on foreign direct investment in Kenya and to examine the moderating effect of trade openness on the relationship between economic growth and FDI in Kenya. Both a causal and time series research design were used in the study. A checklist was used to gather time series data from the KNBS data base from 1966 to 2019. The researcher used the Vector Error Correlation Model (VECM) in the study. The Eclectic Paradigm theory, Neoclassical Trade theory, Internalization theory, Interest Rate Parity theory, and International Fishers theory served as the foundation for this thesis. Model 1 was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.0000<0.05 and an F-statistic of 21.4318. When all other variables are held constant, R2=0.8374 showed that the chosen macroeconomic variables produced a statistically significant positive forecast of 83.74 percent of foreign direct investment. Based on Model 2's findings, trade openness influences FDI and economic growth in a moderating manner as indicated by the coefficient estimate of the interaction term between trade openness and economic growth on FDI, which was 0.0427 with a p-value of 0.00000<0.05. The data demonstrated the statistical significance of the model used with an F-statistic of 20.3464; p-value = 0.00005<0.05. Selected macroeconomic variables contributed to 75.59 percent of all investment which is shown by R2 = 0.7559. The inference made was that the examined macroeconomic factors influence net FDI inflows to Kenya. The study suggests that the government launch initiatives that can encourage long-term economic growth, guarantee that inflation rates are stable, and concentrate on export promotion incentives that will aid in fostering greater trade openness with other nations in order to raise FDI levels.
PROCUREMENT PLANNING AND PROCUREMENT PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022-09) ANNROSE, NKIROTE
There has been an effort by the public institutions in Kenya to improve the performance of the procurement function. However, poor performance is still a challenge. These institutions are burdened with delays and occasional inability to deliver goods to the designated organizations within the required time. The goods are of poor quality that does not meet the user's requirements. This problem has led to a decline in the performance of enormous public organizations. The procurement department in universities is one of the fastest growing departments. They are headed by Procurement managers whose primary responsibility is coordinating procurement and disposal activities and offering professional advice to the University. The department faces several challenges in implementing the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal act (2015), which requires strict adherence to lengthy bureaucratic procedures. The study's general objective was to investigate the influence of procurement planning on procurement performance in public universities. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of Need assessment, cost estimation, quality specifications and risk management on procurement performance in selected public universities in Kenya. The study was grounded on systems, stakeholder, and resource-based theories. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 324 participants, the sample size was 102, and stratified sampling was adopted. The study used primary data, which was collected through questionnaires. Multiple linear regression models aided in the analysis to determine the influence of independent variables on the dependent variable with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 28.0). The significance of each independent variable was tested using a t-test, while the overall significance of the model was tested using F-test at a 5% significance level. The results implied a significant relationship between procurement planning and procurement performance. The t statistics and significance level established a statistically significant positive effect on needs assessment, cost estimation, quality specification, risk management, and procurement performance of public universities in the Eastern region at a 5% significance level with coefficients of 0.059, 0.100, 0.105 and 0.376 and p-values 0.405, 0.012, 0.040 and 0.000 respectively. Further, the study found that compliance with government procurement regulations moderated the relationship between procurement planning and procurement performance. The study concluded that public universities should encourage effective use of need assessments, cost estimations, quality specification, and risk management; they positively impacted public universities' procurement process in the Eastern region. The findings of this study are expected to be helpful; for public universities, as they would provide valuable complementary knowledge in formulating policy and a regulatory framework on procurement planning in Public Universities. Academicians are expected to use this information to add to their understanding of procurement planning and performance. It is expected to further lead to new knowledge generation and bridge existing gaps. It will be necessary for policymakers and stakeholders in Kenya's public procurement supply chain. The study will be a crucial ingredient in; planning, designing, and implementing a sound public procurement planning that will align itself to the overall economic strategy. It would also introduce new comparative knowledge for procurement departments to deal with challenges in implementing procurement planning.
EFFECT OF EXTENDED MARKETING MIX ELEMENTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PRIVATE CHARTERED UNIVERSITIES IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2022-09) Mbuba, Enid
A comprehensive plan specifically created for attaining a firm's objectives is known as a marketing mix strategy. It offers a strategy for achieving marketing goals. Private Universities are facing competition from public universities, Tertiary institutions which includes National and Local polytechnics under government sponsorship. This competition has resulted to low enrolment and decreased graduates in some Private Universities. Private Universities being purely in a service industry apply extended marketing mix elements such as processes, people and physical evidence to increase their student enrolment. The general objective of the study was to investigate the effect of extended marketing mix elements on the performance of private universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effect of processes, people and physical evidence on the performance of private universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study was anchored on marketing mix model, consumer/customer behavior model and resource based theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 1867 respondents comprising of academic and administrative staff from 9 chartered private Universities in Nairobi City County, out of which a sample of 330 was selected. Questionnaire was the main instrument of data collection. Simple and Multiple Linear Regression analysis was done with aid of statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 to assess the relationship between variables. F-statistics, Correlation analysis and 𝑅2 were used for testing hypothesis. Results are presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Diagnostic tests such as Multicollinearity, Heteroscedasticity and Normality tests were carried out. From the study there was significant effect of process on performance according to administrative staff with a regression coefficient of 0.556, p-value 0.000<0.05). Further, there was significant effect of people on performance according to academic and administrative staff regression coefficient of 0.456 and 0.833 respectively with P-value of 0.000<0.05. Finally, there was significant effect of physical evidence on performance according to academic and administrative staff regression coefficient of 0.218 and 0.932 respectively with P-value of 0.032 and 0.000 <0.05.) The study concluded that process, people and physical evidence had a significant effect on performance of private universities in Kenya. The study recommends that private universities should develop and implement extended marketing mix elements that enhance processes, engage, people who are qualified and maintain appropriate physical facilities to ensure increased performance. The findings are useful to universities to help them in designing effective extended marketing mix strategies that boost performance. The study findings also contribute to theory on extended marketing mix elements and performance in private chartered universities in Nairobi City County.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2020-12) Njiru, Fredrick Nthiga
The broad objective of the study was to establish the influence of human resource management practices on employee performance in the Public Health Facilities in Tharaka Nithi County. The specific objectives were to: examine the influence of employee training, performance appraisal, employee compensation and employee relations on performance in the public health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County. The study was motivated by the increasing rate of industrial unrest in Tharaka Nithi County Public Health Facilities and insufficiency of comprehensively documented research. The study was guided by three theories: universalistic perspective, human capital theory and contingency theory. The correlation research design was used with a target population of 883 employees in the 92 public health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County. Systematic random sampling was used to select a sample of 275 respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. To establish the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, a pilot study of 43 respondents at Tharaka (Marimanti) District Hospital was conducted. A Cronbach alpha value of 0.860 was attained which exceeded the recommended level of 0.700, thereby indicating reliability. Data collected in the main study was coded and analyzed with aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the data. F-statistic and T-Statistic were used for testing hypothesis at 5% level of significance. The study established that employee training, performance appraisal; employee compensation and employee relations had a positive statistically significant effect on employee performance with a P-value of 0.003, 0.010, 0.000 and 0.000 respectively. The coefficients of determination for employee training, performance appraisal, employee compensation and employee relations were 0.148, 0.117, 0.198 and 0.207 respectively. The findings of this study will be of benefit to county administrators and policy makers as it informs policy formulation that ensures employee performance in Public Health facilities is highly enhanced. The recommendations of this study include: establishing robust employee training programmes and instituting a full-fledged training unit, practicing all the performance appraisal aspects of human resource management, establishing effective employee compensation schemes and investing in improving and promoting great employee relations.
EFFECT OF FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS ADOPTION ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA
(Chuka University, 2020-12) Muriuki, Paul Murithi
The search for explanation on the relationship between financial innovation adoption and financial performance continues to dominate finance literature. Empirical studies exploring the nature of the relationship between financial innovation and financial performance present inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of financial innovation adoption on financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The specific objectives were; to determine the effect of agency banking, online banking, mobile banking and credit card banking on financial performance (ROA) of commercial banks. In addition, the study sought to establish the moderating effect of bank size on the relationship between financial innovation and financial performance of commercial banks. The study employed census survey on the population of the 42 commercial banks as at December 2016. Secondary data on financial innovation indicators was collected using a checklist for the period 2011 to 2017. Data was analyzed using a multiple linear regression analysis model with aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23.0. T-test and F- test were used to test the significance of the regression coefficients and overall model respectively, at 5% level of significance. The assumptions of ordinary least squares method were tested and established not to have been violated. The findings of the study revealed statistically significant positive effect of mobile banking (β =1.923, p-value 0.001<0.05, online banking (β =1.818, p-value 0.006<0.05) and agency banking (β=1.137, p-value 0.006<0.05) on financial performance (ROA). However, credit card banking had no statistically significant effect on ROA (β = 0.374, P-value 0.113>0.05). Bank size had no significant statistical influence on the relationship between financial innovations and ROA (β =0.071, p-value 0.509>0.05). The study recommended enhanced investment and usage of mobile, online and agency banking by commercial banks as they enhanced efficiency in service delivery and provided additional streams of non funded incomes which improved the return on assets.
EFFECT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
(Chuka University, 2020-12) Kimathi, Faith Karimi
The eventual performance of organizations is contingent on the performance of its employees which in turn depend on numerous factors such as family, leisure or other personal aspects. To improve organizational competitiveness, performance must be increased and monitored while taking into account various aspects such as work-life values, diversity of employee needs, working relationships as well as work-life balance practices. Work-life Balance allows employees greater plasticity in their work therefore enhancing balance between work and the responsibilities outside their work stations. This study therefore sought to determine the effect of work-life balance on employee performance in public Universities in Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to determine the effect of leave administration, staff wellness programs, organizational support and work-life balance on employee performance in public Universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on Spill Over, Work Family Enrichment and Component Theories. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 17221 employees of seven public Universities in Kenya. Israel’s formula was used to determine the sample size of 390 while respondents were selected using disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. A closed ended questionnaire was used to collect primary data. A pilot study was conducted amongst 39 respondents from Chuka University to test the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Reliability was established through the use of Cronbachs’ Alpha coefficient. Data analysis was done through multiple linear regression to establish the effect of work-life balance on employee performance in public Universities in Kenya. The overall significance of the model was tested using F-statistic at 5% level of significance. The study established that leave administration, staff wellness programs and organisational support had a statistically positive significant effect on employee performance with coefficients of 0.7941, 0.675 and 0.833 with p-values of 0.000, 0.000 and 0.000 respectively. The study concluded that work-life balance had statistically significant effect on employee performance. The study is expected to form the basis for policy formulation in the field of human resource management and enhance service delivery among public Universities in Kenya.

Browse

Recent Submissions